We're conditioned at an early age how to talk, think, dress. Then, during some bogus ceremony where we get a piece of paper and license to join the world of adults, are told to make something of ourselves, make something of this planet.But we remain in our candy-coated shells, too afraid to show the real us that bubbles beneath the surface.Conditioned, as we are, not to fail.Not to stand out.

It is indeed sad that we are raised to think of failure as finite and something to be avoided at all costs. Failure is how we learn best. Character is developed by what we do in response to failure. There is no shame in trying and failing, there is shame in giving up and assuming the box-shape we were assigned to. Good post!

Thom Gabrukiewicz is both a communicator and a writer of flash fiction. Most of what he writes is kind of dark, with occasional forays into the light.
He’s a winner of some awards and has covered two Winter Olympics. He’s also written a guidebook about hiking with dogs.
He’s fiercely loyal and has a malevolent side that seems to visit less and less. He’s both a hopeless romantic and a realist.
He's currently working on community wellness issues in Wyoming.